The Penn's Grove record., 1887-03-05

- 1ChAtA ~ NA9NtANhiJ WY
chimney OF the houses Of the town that
nestled so costly in the hollow between
the pIeclpitious cliffs. The moon was
reflected brightly in the ocean to the
south, and by its light 1 could even see
the glittering bayonet of the sentry who
guarded the government stores on the
pier, a mile distant. Our gallant sol
diers on duty, however, have but little
regard for tho picturesque; and Ike
most men similarly situated; l was
wearying for the termination or my
two hours vigil, and little inclined to
admire the surrounding scenery. AT
length the clock struck three; and l
was at once filed with a feeling OF
CHEEKY satisfaction at the immediate
prospect OF being relieved, and OF re-
turning to the warm guard-room and a
cup Of hot coffee before turning OIL to
sleep.
1 heard the sentry on the gate Justify
shout "~Sentry-gol" as summons for
the relief to turn out; and just az / was
preparing to take q last turn on my
post. l perceived, at the extremity OF
the shadow cast by the officers quar-
tiers, a ghostly figure In a long, white
robe bearing in its hand drawn sword.
l endeavored to shout for assistance,
but was so ''harrow wed with fear and
WONDER" that | was unable to articu-
late a single word, but stood perfectly
transGxed staring at the appsrttion
1t moved slowly past me; but when 1t
turned around and raised its dlsengaged
hand to Its white head covering, as II
in salute, It's aspect so filled me with
terror that being, al l mentioned be-
fore, of q nervous temperament. L fell
TO the ground, and only recovered con-
sciousness when. a minute OF two after
wards, | was vigorously shaken by the
sergeant OF the guard.
That non-commissioned officer, along
with the men of the relief, laughed
heartily when l described the fright l
had received, and remarked that | had
leen dreaming. The sergeant, how
ever, performed the duty required Of
HIM by the rules Of disciple in the most
memorable fashion. He deprived me
of my arms, and belt, and confined me
In tho prisoners quarters in the guard
room.
Next day 1 was taken before the
commanding oaicer, a hot-headed
Welshman, whom l shall call Colonel
Morgan, charged with having been
asleep at my post. To him l related
the particulars Of the mysterious figure
l had seen, but my statement, instead
of proving a satisfactory excuse for my
offence, as l hoped it would. threw the
worthy colonel into a state OF great
indignation. and he at once remltted
me for trial for court-martial.
On the third day after the sitting Of
the court, I was informed that my SEN
tence would be promulgated at forenoon
parade. With a sinking heart l heard
the assembly sounded, then the ''fall
in;'' and shortly afterwards the band
played merrily, as If in mockery OF my
agitation.
Escorted by q file Of the guard, l
marched to the centre of the hollow
square into which the regiment had
been formed; and the adjutant read out
my sentence, which was that l should
be imprisoned with hard labor for a
period of "a days. Appended to the
confirmation OF the proceedings OF the
court-mArtial by the general command
ing the district was a note to the fol-
lowing effect: considering the nature
of the prisoners defence, which was
calculated to excite an uneasy feeling
among the men OF the regiment, I con
slider the punishment indicted quite
inadequate to the enormity OF his Of
fence.
The next day l was escorted, hand
cuffed, to q military prison six miles
distant, where, after having been medI-
cally examined and weighed l Was
introduced to a most select assemblage
of erring brethren of the sword, who
were engaged In exhilarating occupl-
ton Of picking oakum, alternated with
the agreeable muscular exercise OF
''shot" drill.
The humiliatlng and degrading sltua.
ton in which | found myself, through
no fault of my own. madeline naturally
enough, deeply regret my folly in hay-
ing Joined the army, and excited within
me many unpleasant feelings on the
good prospects In civil life which | had
thrown to the winds. Like Mickey
Frees father, In Levers "Charles o.
Malley," l heartily calculated: "Bad
luck to the hand that held the hammer
that struck the shilling that listed mel"
Now for the sequel OF my ghost
story. which wal related to me WIN |
was released from durance vile.
Between 2 and 3 O'Clock on the
morning OF the day / was taken to
prison, a man came rushing into the
guard room of the barracks, exhibiting
symptoms of the most extreme terror.
and declaring that he, too, had seen
the figure while on sentry; and his de-
scription OF its appearance was pre-
cisely similar to mine.
The sergeant Of the guard at once
rushed to the officers quarters, woke
up the a~djutant, and Informed him OF
the ghosts temperance. A hue and
cry was at once instituted; and the
orderly sergeants having been aroused,
a "check-roll" was called to ascertain
whether any man had left his room TO
the purpose OF playing a practical joke.
Every nook and corner in the barracks
from the officers quarters to the wash
houses we're rigldly examined, but the
spectre had apparently vanished into
thin air, leaving all thu regiment in a
state OF unpleasant suspense.
whats all the row." shouted the
colonel from the window OF his room,
he having been awakened by the unu.
sual commotion in the barracks.
1.-THE ghost has appeared again, sir"
replied the adiutlnt.
''Haye you caught him?"
"No, SIR"
IF you do, put him, white sheet and
all, in the guard room l should very
much like to see tho gentleman" re-
marked the colonel as he closed the
sash of his window and returned to
bed.
That morning. at orderly hour, Colo
mel Morgan remitted the unfortunate
fellow who, like me. had been scared
by the mysterious ylsitant, for trial by
eourt martial. declaring that he would